Directly Contacting Prospective Renter

I don't think you are so long as you still plan to honor the commission agreement you signed with the broker.

Thanks, I definitely don't have a problem w/him receiving his fair share. Just wanted to see if contacting the renter directly to confirm was a normal request through my broker and buyer's broker.

Also, you can always try posting on Craigslist for short term rental opportunities.

You have a right to ask for it if you would really feel more comfortable. That having been said, no it is not a normal request, and suggests to not only your broker but to the prospective renters that you suspect your broker is lying to you--an uncomfortable situation all around. It is not surprising that your broker is finding it easier to find tenants for a year as the vast majority of renters are looking for just that. Perhaps a less offensive and more productive approach would be to ask your broker what he is doing to specifically market to short term renters.

Not sure what the difficulty is.
If the lease is only for a few months, and someone is willing to pay a broker's fee for less than a year's lease, why the hell not?